Kuwait targets 15% renewable energy by 2030

Kuwait has set a target to generate 15% of its electricity demand from renewable energy including solar by 2030.

According to media reports, the Emir of Kuwait, Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah said at the United Nations climate talks in Doha this week that by 2015 Kuwait will meet 1% of its electricity demand from solar and wind energy.

Kuwait relies heavily on oil for power generation but according to the International Renewable Agency (IRENA), the country has approximately 70MW of installed renewable energy capacity. Of this capacity, PV accounts for 10MW and concentrated solar power accounts for 50MW. The remaining 10MW is accounted for by wind.

Kuwait is just one of several Middle Eastern countries that have recently turned towards renewable energy. Last month Dubai set a target to generate at least 5% of its energy from renewables by 2030 whilst Saudi Arabia is aiming to have 54GW of installed renewable energy capacity by 2032.